Would you read a breed profile before buying a dog?

I think sometimes also people use all the things mentioned above as an excuse for the real reason of not wanting a certain dog. It (sadly) almost accepted to say "hes to big" , to playful, to loud, to hyper etc etc etc instead of saying, i dont have the time, or patience, or whatever. if you get a dog, most people know the general size and traits of a dog im sure. i feel it has become an accepted excuse in a lot of cases. but i do agree with all of the posts above also, you should know what you are getting into 110%.

I think that happens more often that you think. I know I have one dog that I was shocked to see how big he got. He is a cross breed. Half Boxer and half Border Collie. I figured he would be a bit larger than a standard Border Collie, but he surpassed that and then some. He currently weighs in at about 105 lbs. He's a big fella!! His size was not really an issue for me, as I live on a farm and have a large acreage for him to run on with the other three dogs we have. I am thankfull to have him actually, he is a great guard dog (well alarm system at least). While I don't think he would hurt or attack anyone, he is a good deterent for people who might be up to no good. He will bark at visitors, especially if he doesn't know them. My other dogs are all of medium size. The problem with most people who adopt a dog is that they get enamored in the whole, "getting a dog for my kid" thing, and then the newness wears off of the new puppy, the puppy grows into a bigger dog, requires more frequent walks and exercise and the kids lose interest. Then, poor cute little puppy is all grown up, and never gets attention. I am outside daily with my dogs. They are not chained or penned up. They go with me to do chores, they go with me out to check fence. The sit with me in the yard. They try to "help" me in the garage working on stuff. I spend some time each day throwing the ball for them. Many people don't make that commitment to the pet when they get it. My dogs are part of the family. For many people it's a status symbol, or the "in thing" to do. I think there should be more stringent checks on people who want to adopt a pet. What is their schedule? What amount of time do they have to spend with the pet? What will the living situation be for the pet? Then, when they are approved to adopt, they need to list out the specifics of what they expect their full grown dog to be. If available, they need to be shown that breen full grown.

Yes I read the profile of the dog we have just got as I have grandchildren and live in a flat which has a garden, so we could not have a big dog as it would be unfair to the dog, so we have a papillon nice little dog.

Most of the dogs I've owned are the ones who get returned and for the very reasons you stated. People fall in love with the cute bundle of fur that is a German Shepherd puppy, and then can't handle the strong leggy teenager they become at 9 months old. By the time they reach 2 they rule the house! Or they fall for the Labrador pup in a certain famous advert and don't realise that it will chew everything in sight and still be running around like a puppy at 4 years old. I think people should have to answer questions about the breed they choose and at least have some idea of the energy levels and size of adult. Some rescue societies do try hard to match dog and owner but it's surely common sense to read any information available before taking on a dog. They shouldn't be toys that can be discarded if they don't suit!

It is an absolute MUST!!!So many people rush out to get a dog because it looks so cute on tv, or movies, or they just see a cute little puppy and scoop it up before thinking of the dog's natural disposition. You wouldn't buy a house without knowing where it was located, what the neighborhood was like, etc....why bring a living thing into your life when you don't know if you can satisfy its needs? Some dogs require a huge amount of exercise, so hardly any...some are naturally easier to train, some require more patience...I beg you, if you are reading this and thinking about getting a dog, please do your research first!